Battlefield Gratitude...

Since Friday I've battled against giving in to some type of cold or flu bug.

My symptoms have been a slight sore throat and ear ache and a general feeling of puniness.

My weapons have been hot tea with lots of lemon, staying home and resting, and taking Airborne.

My daughters make fun of me, saying that Airborne is to me what Windex is to Gus Portokalos,

the father in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".

Remember how he would spray Windex on everything from cuts to pimples believing it was a cure all?

Well, I'm sure it's more the prayers than the Airborne, but I haven't succumbed to being full blown sick, thank God.

This past month I've battled something else as well.

In the same way that this bug is trying to get me but I keep fighting it,

I sense the enemy is up to no good.

Of course, satan is always and ever only up to no good.

But I sense him trying to get me to succumb to frustration, to doubt, to discouragement, to fear.

I'm so thankful that I know the miracle cure for his schemes.

It's not Airborne.

It's not Windex.

It's the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

It's the truth of God's Word.

It's worshipping God, praising God and thanking God-

even if I don't feel well or don't feel like it.

These are the weapons I rely on in this battlefield.

These are my miracle cure for what, or who, ails me.

**************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4418-#4442

3-10-14-

-a long and lovely phone call with my friend and co-leader of my (in)courage group

and a long and lovely phone call with another friend

-blooms and blossoms all around the neighborhood

-an amazing rainbow

-a loving note from the hubs

-a yummy dinner

3-11-14-

-a sunny day!

-walking, (and praying), around our local fitness trail

-meeting our oldest daughter and her family and our youngest daughter for dinner at Chipotle,

then walking around the mall with them

3-12-14-

-meeting a couple of the twenty somethings from church for coffee

-another great day to go to the fitness trail to walk and run

-pink nails for spring

-homemade Irish Soda Bread and a delicious salad for dinner

3-13-14-

-meeting one of our elder's wives for tea

-being home to relax after a long day

3-14-14-

-a slow, lazy start to the hub's day off

-lunch together~lamb kebabs, tabouleh, hummus and pita bread at one of our favorite places

-going to our two oldest grandkids school spring program

and treating them to Dairy Queen afterwards

3-15-14-

-a day at home in my pjs, trying to fight a "bug"

-no guilt about spending the afternoon in bed

-hot tea with lemon

3-16-14-

-the Presence of Jesus during worship

-our "spiritual dad" preaching at our church

-lunch with the fifty somethings after church

-limelight hydrangeas on sale at the grocery store

-a fun text conversation with youngest daughter

gratefully yours,

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